Porn stars and lingerie ads: New tech but same old sexism at Chinese internet firms
Online giants forced to apologise after using porn stars and scantily clad women in ads
E-commerce giant Alibaba sought job applicants with porn star attributes and other tech firms host adult video starlets: the mainland's new economy powerhouses are not immune from old-style sexism.
Communist leader Mao Zedong declared that "Women hold up half the sky", but academics say the country is still far from gender equality, even in the modern and fast-growing tech sector.
"In mainstream [Chinese] society, there is objectification of women and gender inequality," said Wang Ping of the Zhejiang Academy of Social Sciences. "It might be more serious in technology companies."
Nasdaq-listed online marketplace JD.com triggered online outrage in May when it promoted International Nurses Day with images of health workers in lingerie-like uniforms.
"I will never buy things from JD again. What disgusting behaviour!" one woman wrote.
The firm quickly yanked the ad and apologised.
The authorities detained five feminist activists for over a month earlier this year after they planned to hand out leaflets about sexual harassment on public transport.